Safety snatch block



Jan. 16, 1940. H 2,187,268

SAFETY SNATCH BLOCK Filed Dec. 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 16, 1940. A. M. HILL 2,187,268

SAFETY SNA'ICH BLOCK Filed Dec. 50, 1958 2 Sheets--Sneet 2 :52, r. pm

, Pa tentedJan. 16,1940

V corporationof Maine Application December 30,

was, Serial n 24mm 1 This invention relates to snatch blocks and more particularly to a new and improved type of snatch block having improved strength superior. safety qualities.

Snatcnblocks are used inconnectidn with pipe line operations and in many other connec-" tionsl In the past snatch blocks have generally included a pressed steel housing and a malleable cast hook hinged on one side of the housing; a shorthorn cast onthe body of the large hook and an oblong link hinged to the opposite side I of "the housing constituting thelatching feature design of the latching elements. 'Blocks of this andflthe tendency to unlatch represent serious safety hazards which it is an objeet of this invention to eliminate. Other and l'i'lOld detailed i of the block. Somewhat. similar devices are shown in Ferrall Patent 389,577 and Hartz f Patent\527,490 which are typical of the prior art.

However, this type of snatch block has been found to be unsafe and subject to frequent failure when used for heavy duty service due to the sort, furthermore; unlatch very frequently when t the cable is slacked oil to release the load.

Both the tendency towards mechanical failur objects, advantages and uses of myfinventionwill become apparent as the description thereof proceeds. 1

block and in which these members serveto latch ;a2'|, bolt I3 and nut l4 hold the side plates spaced at the center so that a rigid body structure is In brief my invention has to do with a type of snatch block in which a draft ring or other draft member is engaged by .at least one latch member hinged to each side of the body of the the draft member in a strong and safe manner.

The invention will be described more fully with Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of i safety snatch block in accordance with my in vention; v i Figure 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Figure 2 and taken along the '-vertical center line of Figure 1 except that the latch! is shown open in Figure 3 instead of closed as in Figures 1.

Fi ure 4 is a artial front elevation of a modit g p use} with one truck winch.

fled form of safety snatch block corresponding generally to the upperportion of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a partial side elevation of the media fied form of the safetysnatch block shown in Figured; v

Turning now to Figures 1,2 and 3, a conventional sheave I is mounted between twoside plates, lz welded to the side plates. Boltul3 passeslthrough the'side plates and square plates and is held in place by nut l l retained by cotter Side plates i II are additionally reinforced by reinforcing bars I6. of which there are, four in i all. These bars are welded to the sideplates and terminate in enlarged ends l1 which are drilled to receive bolts l8 and I9. These bolts are in turn drilled to receive cotter pins 20. The side plates, square plates and reinforcing bars are all part of the body of the block.

Bolt 18 serves asthe axis for latch ring 2| while bolt l9 serves as "the axis for a double latch hook 22. Thus these latching members are hinged for outward movement to permit placing a rope or cable over sheave It i Latchyring 2| receivesdraft ring 23; Double ;.draft hook 22 latches over this draftring as i shown in Figure 2 when the latch is closed.

block can be equipped, as shown, with member 24 which is held in place by bolts 25 passing "UNITED S AT J T I j platesffl l which arecentrally reinforced'by square through the lower reinforced portions of side plates II and equipped with nuts 26. Member .24, bolts and nuts 28 hold the side plates in spaced positionat the bottom and bearing tube obtained. 1

This safety snatch block has proven'highly satisfactory in every way under ordinary and extraordinary field conditions in pipe line work.

inch cable instead of the size inch cable for which it was designed. The block withstood this stress a block would be subjected to under normal 'While the snatch blockof Figures 1, 2 and 3 is superior to prior art snatch blocks. This: second embodiment is shown in Figures a and 5 which severe test which is approximately twice the (not shown) being identical with that of Figures '1, 2 and 3.

In the device of Figures 4 and 5 a draft hook 22 is mounted on each side of the block in the same manner as draft ring 2| and double draft hook 22 are mounted in the embodiment of Figures l, 2 and 3 except that a headed bolt I8 is used instead of unheaded bolt 18. In other words, L the, form shown in Figures 4 and 5 islike that of the first embodiment except that a single inward-\ ly-facing draft hook is used on each side instead; of a draft ring on one side and a double draft hook on the other.

It will be seen that the draft hooks of Figures 15 4 and 5 are so shaped that thereis little tendency for the device to unlatch when the load is slacked off since inner faces 28 of the draft hooks are inclined downwardly and inwardly latched position (Figure 5).

WhilexI have described my invention in connection with certain preferred embodiments thereof, it'is to be understood that these are by wayof illustration and not by way of limitation and I do not mean to be restricted thereby but when in only to the scope of the appended claim which should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

I claim:

A snatch block comprising a sheave, a body portion extending on both sides of said sheave,

" a latch ring mounted on one side of said body portion and pivoted to move in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said sheave, a draft member carried by an elongated opening in said latch ring, a double latch hook mounted on the other side of said body portion, pivoted to move in a plane substantially normal to the plane of ,said sheave and constructed and arranged to engage said draft member on both sides of said latch ring, said latch ring and said latch hook 

